APC NA Chairman Al-Aziz Turay inaugural message to the Ohio Chapter 04/14/2012

Executive Members of APC – NA!

Hon. Dauda Tombo Bangura!

Frm. Chairman – Mr. Osman T. Conteh!

APC – NA Coordinator, Mr. Mohamed L. Fofanah!

Members of the various Committees!

Representatives from other political parties!

Fellow Sierra Leoneans!

Distinguish guests!

Ladies & gentlemen – All protocols observed

Mr. President & Executive,

Let me first of all thank the Almighty Allah for giving me the strength and courage to perform this ceremony. I also want to thank our invited guest and every one of you for honoring our invitation. Let me also extend many thanks to my executive for their exceptional services and personal sacrifices to our branch and party, but most especially to my wife and children for the many absences from home, while conducting party affairs.

It is an honor to be here tonight with distinguish personalities and party members, as we witness this memorable inauguration and the official integration of the newly elected executive of this great chapter. On behalf of the APC party at home and here in North America, let me genuinely express my appreciation for the opportunity given to me to inaugurate this executive. Therefore, I am humbled to start by congratulating and welcoming you to the APC North America family.

Mr. President and executive members, you are entering into positions of leadership, you are going to face a membership that expects a lot from you and you are bound to live to that task. As chairman, I will always encourage and support you to uphold the aims, objectives and to serve the purpose of our glorious party at all time. The North America branch has endured a lot in exercising its devotion to our party as such, it is very important that we continue to stand firm to maintain our tolerance and unity for the benefit of our party. As we celebrate the inauguration of this new executive, it is my honor and privilege to re-echo to you all that you are now members of a chapter that faces a lot of challenges.

Fellow party members, on 23rd of December 2011, the APC Ohio Chapter had its elections to elect a new executive to run the affairs of the chapter for the next two years. As we all know, no elections can be won or lost without flexing muscles. After all the negativity we experienced during and after the elections, we have learned to respect the values and rights of every individual. The elections are over; there is neither perfect democracy nor, a perfect election. The mood must change now to embrace one another to work for a common goal and put the party’s interest above everything else.

I will encourage you Mr. President to listen to every voice and pay attention to every concern members may bring forward as you work to map the way for lasting peace in this great chapter. I will also encourage you to utilize the greatness in everyone to create a mechanism that will help us represent what we all believe in.

As chairman, I will encourage your administration to be inclusive and continue to work hard to unite and reconcile all members. Let reconciliation be your philosophy and a true spirit of your leadership. We must once again demonstrate, to non APC supporters here and around the world that, when it comes to the APC, our commitment to make the party succeed transcends our individual pettiness and personal gains. I have no doubt in my mind that your administration will work hard to recruit more members into the fold because we cannot sit by and compromise our party’s win in the 2012

We all know what the great APC Ohio Chapter is capable of doing, as chairman, I cannot afford to lose any member especially knowing what you can bring to the table. To every one of you out there, we cherish you all, we love you, we need you and I am asking for your support to lift this chapter and the APCNA branch to a higher heights. I want to make sure; we utilize the potentials of every member to the fullest.

My fellow party members, everyone is as equally important as the other, just remember the least man or woman has one vote; and the most powerful man has one vote to cast in a true democracy. No doubt we would continue to do things differently but, let us always remember that we are party members and most important, we are all Sierra Leoneans. We know the good work our government is doing however; we also know the tasks that lie ahead of us. The Ohio chapter is at the cross roads but I have faith in you all, and I am confidence in the leadership of our dynamic president Mr. Rashid Bangura.

Let us work very smartly to restore the respect and dignity this chapter deserves. I look forward to gaining your acceptance and support so that we could implement the good ideas we have to promote our party. Every one’s participation in this endeavor would be the key ingredient to that success.

As you all know ladies and gentlemen especially you, Mr. President, the role of leadership has never been an easy ride. The road is always rocky and slippery, there are so many huddles along the way, criticism becomes the order of the day, family priorities would be lessened, you would be forced to smile even when you are angry, people love to engage you in any way possible, people would ask you questions and expect split-seconds answer(s) and the list goes on. Mind you, these are just few challenges you are expected to handle on a daily basis. But always remember, that you took an oath to serve the party faithfully. Be humble and respectful to people, be honest and sincere in the manner you work with them, be open and do not burn any bridge as you move on, be mindful of your answers because they may be used against you when the need arises. Do not always rush to speak first, do more of listening than talking. To you my fellow chapter members, be respectful to your leaders, because leadership comes from the Almighty God.

I want to seize this opportunity to thank the leadership and members of this great Ohio chapter. Let me once again thank our guests and supporters, of course all Sierra Leoneans and friends of Sierra Leone for honoring our invitation. I also call upon our million folks here and everywhere to join us in wishing the best for ourselves, our party and our beloved country.

I thank you all and may God continue to bless the APC, and the people of Sierra Leone.

AL- Aziz Turay, Chairman, APC – NA

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